'Forest Over Sea'- Trio for Alto and Bass Flutes with Piano

Melbourne based composer Carolyn Morris has composed a work for low flutes duo and piano. The composition has been commissioned by Peter Sheridan and is titled, 'Forest Over Sea,' which features the alto and bass flutes with piano. A warm lyrical setting with breath-taking phrasing and memorable melodies are the solid trademarks of this fine composition.

The piece is set in four movements and explores a wide variety of styles and instrumental qualities for all three instruments. 'Awakening' has a 12/8 feel and provides the opportunity for both alto and bass flute to show off their upper registers, as they sing over the bubbling watery accompaniment. 'Skylarking' is a solo flute duet with interesting meter changes and fast flourishes of rhythmic energy. A brief, yet stunning cadenza fetures in the middle of the movement for each instrument. The 3rd movement 'Turquoise Sea' (my personal favourite) is a piece of music that will stick with you for a long time to come. The lyricism that is projected throughout, is both emotionally touching and aurally pleasing. The movement is filled with profound imagery and care for the greatest of details. Ms. Morris found the souls of these two low flutes and wrote them out on paper. 'Ocean Ride' brings the work to a close in a flurry buster of active legato triplet rhythms, and a tricky, yet pleasing hemiola meter change that is somewhat reminiscent of Bernstein's "America," from Westside Story, as the composer stated herself.

What an honour it is to have a composer such as Ms. Morris create a composition that allows these two instruments to explore both lyricism and emotional depth. I am forever grateful and humbled by this addition to our repertoire.

Ms. Morris's compositions are published frequently and readily available on several of the leading Australian Music Publishing websites. The composition will be featured at the Melbourne Composers Concert on Sunday September 8th at Flockart Hall, Methodist Ladies College (check Victorian Flute Guild for details) and again at the esteemed Australian Flute Festival in Canberra on Saturday October 8th (4:00pm-' Sonorous Sonatas Recital). The work has been proposed for recording in 2014 with the Independent record label MOVE.